Short answer: with 7 days, spend four nights in Rio de Janeiro and two at Iguaçu Falls, seeing both the Brazilian and the Argentine sides. With 10 days, add three nights in Salvador for Afro-Brazilian culture, colonial streets and warm beaches. With 14 days, pick a theme: Rio, Iguaçu, Bonito’s clear rivers and a Pantanal lodge for wildlife (best July to October), or Rio, Salvador, Olinda and the islands of Fernando de Noronha for beaches (best September to February). Brazil is huge, so every route uses domestic flights between regions; trying to see “everything” in two weeks just means living in airports.
This guide turns the sample trips on our Brazil travel guide into day-by-day plans, with travel times between stops and the best area to sleep each night. Seasons vary by region, and September to November and March to May suit most trips; our best time to visit Brazil guide goes region by region, and our top 10 places to visit in Brazil explains each stop. For a plan built around your dates and interests, use our AI trip planner. Everything here was checked as of October 2026.
The three routes at a glance
| Route | Days | Stops | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rio and Iguaçu Falls | 7 | Rio de Janeiro (4 nights), Foz do Iguaçu (2 nights) | First trip, city and nature in one week |
| Rio, Iguaçu and Salvador | 10 | Rio de Janeiro (4 nights), Foz do Iguaçu (2 nights), Salvador (3 nights) | Culture, music and food, beaches |
| Wildlife: Rio, Iguaçu, Bonito and the Pantanal | 14 | Rio (4 nights), Foz do Iguaçu (2 nights), Bonito (3 nights), southern Pantanal lodge (4 nights) | Jaguars, birds, snorkeling in rivers; best July to October |
| Beaches: Rio, Salvador, Olinda and Noronha | 14 | Rio (4 nights), Salvador (3 nights), Recife/Olinda (1 night), Fernando de Noronha (4 nights), Recife (1 night) | Beach lovers, snorkelers, Carnival-style culture; best September to February |
Most long-haul flights from the United States and Europe land at São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU), with others into Rio de Janeiro Galeão (GIG) and a few northeastern cities. Book an open-jaw ticket where you can (into Rio, home from Salvador, Recife or Campo Grande via São Paulo) so you don’t have to fly back to the start. US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa, bought online before the trip; most Europeans don’t.
Travel times between the main stops
These are the legs used in the plans below. LATAM, Gol and Azul fly almost everywhere, but many routes between regions connect in São Paulo or Brasília, so a “short” flight can become a half-day. Flight times are nonstop times from airline schedules and are approximate; times marked official come from the city or park authority.
| Leg | How | Time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rio de Janeiro – Foz do Iguaçu | Flight | about 2 h (approximate) | Flight schedules |
| São Paulo – Foz do Iguaçu | Flight | about 1 h 30–1 h 45 (approximate) | Flight schedules |
| Rio de Janeiro – Salvador | Flight | about 2 h (approximate) | Flight schedules |
| Salvador – Recife | Flight | about 1 h 15 (approximate) | Flight schedules |
| Recife – Fernando de Noronha | Flight, daily | about 1 h | Fernando de Noronha district (official) |
| São Paulo – Bonito | Direct flight (Congonhas or Campinas) | about 2 h 05 | Bonito tourism office (official) |
| Campo Grande – Bonito | Road (about 300 km) | about 4 h | Bonito tourism office (official) |
| Foz do Iguaçu – Argentine side of the falls | Bus, taxi or tour via the Tancredo Neves Bridge | under an hour plus border checks (approximate) | Our Foz do Iguaçu guide |
| Rio de Janeiro – Paraty | Bus from Novo Rio station | about 4 h 20–5 h (approximate) | Booking sites |
| Rio de Janeiro – Búzios | Bus or car (about 170 km) | about 3 h (approximate) | General reference |
| Cuiabá – Porto Jofre (end of the Transpantaneira) | Road, partly unpaved | about 4–5 h (approximate) | General reference |
| Fortaleza – Jericoacoara | Shuttle, with a 4×4 last stretch (about 300 km) | about 5–6 h (approximate) | General reference |
| Rio de Janeiro – Manaus | Flight | about 4 h (approximate) | Flight schedules |
Brazil has four time zones and no daylight saving time: Rio, São Paulo, Salvador and Foz do Iguaçu use Brasília time (UTC−3), Bonito and the Pantanal are an hour behind, and Fernando de Noronha an hour ahead. Check the local time on your boarding pass. Foreigners need a passport to board domestic flights.
7 days: Rio de Janeiro and Iguaçu Falls
The classic first week: one of the world’s most beautifully set cities, then the largest set of waterfalls in the world. It works in any month; the falls flow all year.
- Day 1, Rio: Arrive, check in and walk the promenade at Copacabana or Ipanema, ending with sunset at the Arpoador rocks. Sleep: Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon (4 nights).
- Day 2, Christ the Redeemer and the forest: The first train up Corcovado from Cosme Velho through Tijuca National Park (R$134 round trip with entry, as of October 2026), or the official vans. Afternoon at the botanical garden and the Lagoa.
- Day 3, Sugarloaf and the old center: Morning in the historic center and the Selarón steps, afternoon in Santa Teresa’s hillside streets, then the two-stage cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain for sunset (open until 9 p.m.).
- Day 4, beach day: A slow morning on the sand, a juice bar lunch, and a samba night in Lapa, or a soccer match at the Maracanã if one is on.
- Day 5, to Iguaçu Falls: Morning flight to Foz do Iguaçu (about 2 hours nonstop). The airport is on the road to the national park, so go straight to the Brazilian side: the trail of about 1.5 km along the gorge and the walkway out below the Devil’s Throat take about two hours. Sleep: Foz do Iguaçu, or a hotel on the road to the falls (2 nights).
- Day 6, the Argentine side: Cross the Tancredo Neves Bridge with your passport to Argentina’s Iguazú National Park for a full day on the walkways above and below the falls and the little train to the edge of the Devil’s Throat.
- Day 7, home: A morning at the bird park near the national park entrance, then fly out, usually via São Paulo.
Swap it: trade one Rio day for a day trip to Petrópolis, or spend a night in the colonial port of Paraty (about four and a half hours by bus) or the beach town of Búzios (about three hours). More detail is in our Rio de Janeiro, Foz do Iguaçu and Iguazú National Park guides.
10 days: Rio, Iguaçu Falls and Salvador
The 7-day trip plus Brazil’s first capital, the heart of Afro-Brazilian culture. Salvador is warm all year; it gets most of its rain from April to July, so September to March is the best window for this route.
- Days 1–4, Rio de Janeiro: As in the 7-day plan: the beaches, Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Santa Teresa and the center. Sleep: Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon (4 nights).
- Days 5–6, Iguaçu Falls: Fly to Foz do Iguaçu; the Brazilian side on arrival day and the Argentine side the next. Sleep: Foz do Iguaçu (2 nights).
- Day 7, to Salvador: Fly to Salvador, usually with a connection in São Paulo, Rio or Brasília; allow most of the day. Evening in the Pelourinho. Sleep: the Pelourinho and Santo Antônio, or Barra by the sea (3 nights).
- Day 8, the old city: The painted houses and gilded São Francisco church of the Pelourinho, the Lacerda Elevator down to the Mercado Modelo, and capoeira in the squares. On a Tuesday evening, Olodum’s drummers rehearse in the old town.
- Day 9, the bay or the beach: A boat day to the islands of the Bay of All Saints, or the Bonfim church (tie on a ribbon), then sunset at the Barra lighthouse and moqueca for dinner.
- Day 10, home: Fly out from Salvador, usually via São Paulo or Lisbon.
Swap it: for a beach week in the Northeast instead, fly from Foz to Recife and spend four nights between Olinda and the reef pools of Porto de Galinhas, or to Fortaleza for Jericoacoara’s dunes and lagoons (the windy season, from about July to January, is best for kitesurfing). Details: Salvador, Recife, Fortaleza and Jericoacoara.
14 days: Rio, Iguaçu, Bonito and the Pantanal (wildlife)
Brazil’s best nature in two weeks: the falls, the crystal-clear rivers of Bonito, and the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland and the best place on the continent to see jaguars. Go in the dry season, from about July to October, when animals gather at the shrinking pools and roads are passable; the plain floods from about December to March.
- Days 1–4, Rio de Janeiro: The beaches, Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf and Santa Teresa. Sleep: Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon (4 nights).
- Days 5–6, Iguaçu Falls: Both sides of the falls, plus a Macuco Safari boat ride into the spray if you like getting soaked. Sleep: Foz do Iguaçu (2 nights).
- Day 7, to Bonito: Fly to São Paulo and on to Bonito on a direct flight (about 2 h 05), or to Campo Grande and about 4 hours by road. Sleep: Bonito town (3 nights).
- Days 8–9, Bonito: Float down a spring-fed river such as the Rio da Prata or the Sucuri among fish in water clear as glass, visit the Gruta do Lago Azul cave, or snorkel at Nascente Azul. All tours are booked through local agencies with daily limits, so reserve ahead, and note that sunscreen and repellent are not allowed in the water.
- Day 10, to the Pantanal: Transfer to a ranch lodge in the southern Pantanal, around Miranda or the Estrada Parque. Sleep: a Pantanal lodge (4 nights, usually full board with guided outings).
- Days 11–13, the Pantanal: Dawn and dusk game drives, boat trips, walks and horse rides, looking for capybaras, caimans, giant anteaters, hyacinth macaws, giant otters and, with luck, jaguars.
- Day 14, home: Transfer to Campo Grande and fly out via São Paulo.
For the best chance of jaguars, swap the southern lodge for the northern Pantanal: fly to Cuiabá, drive the Transpantaneira (about 4–5 hours to Porto Jofre) and spend two or three nights on boat trips along the rivers, the main jaguar season being the dry months. More in our Bonito and Pantanal guides.
14 days: Rio, Salvador, Olinda and Fernando de Noronha (beaches)
Rio’s city beaches, Salvador’s culture and a finale on Fernando de Noronha, a protected archipelago with some of the clearest water in Brazil. Aim for September to February: Salvador and Recife get most of their rain from April to July, and Noronha’s rainy months are roughly March to July.
- Days 1–4, Rio de Janeiro: As in the 7-day plan. Sleep: Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon (4 nights).
- Days 5–7, Salvador: Fly north (about 2 hours). The Pelourinho, the Mercado Modelo, the Barra lighthouse, a boat to the bay islands. Sleep: Pelourinho, Santo Antônio or Barra (3 nights).
- Day 8, Recife and Olinda: Fly to Recife (about 1 h 15). Afternoon in the hilltop colonial town of Olinda, 7 km away, a UNESCO site with churches, studios and views back to the city. Sleep: Olinda’s old town or Boa Viagem (1 night).
- Day 9, to Fernando de Noronha: Daily flights from Recife take about an hour. Pay the park ticket (R$384 for foreigners, valid for 10 days, as of October 2026) and the state’s daily environmental fee (TPA), and book the natural pool trails ahead. Sleep: Vila dos Remédios or nearby (4 nights).
- Days 10–12, Noronha: Baía do Sancho and Baía dos Porcos from the clifftop viewpoints, snorkeling in the Atalaia natural pools at low tide (limited slots), the Baía dos Golfinhos viewpoint early in the morning, when spinner dolphins gather, and sunset at Boldró facing the twin peaks of Morro Dois Irmãos.
- Day 13, back to Recife: Fly to Recife; an afternoon in Recife Antigo and the Paço do Frevo. Sleep: Boa Viagem or Recife Antigo (1 night).
- Day 14, home: From Recife, often via São Paulo or Lisbon.
Noronha limits visitor numbers and is expensive; if it is full or out of budget, spend those four nights at Porto de Galinhas, about 60 km south of Recife. Details: Fernando de Noronha.
Where to sleep, by stop
| Stop | Best area for a short stay | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Rio de Janeiro | Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon; Santa Teresa for character | On the beach, on the metro, plenty of restaurants |
| Foz do Iguaçu | The city center, or hotels on the road to the falls | The center for restaurants and buses; the falls road for quick park access and the airport |
| Salvador | Pelourinho and Santo Antônio; or Barra | The old town for history and music; Barra for the sea and sunsets |
| Recife and Olinda | Olinda’s old town, or Boa Viagem in Recife | Olinda for charm; Boa Viagem for the beach and the airport |
| Fernando de Noronha | Vila dos Remédios and around | Pousadas, restaurants and the island bus; book months ahead |
| Bonito | Bonito town | Tour agencies and restaurants; tours pick up from there |
| Pantanal | A ranch lodge (south: Miranda, Estrada Parque; north: the Transpantaneira) | Guided outings at dawn and dusk; usually full board |
| Paraty or Búzios | Paraty’s car-free historic center; Búzios near Rua das Pedras | Walk to restaurants and boat departures |
Late December to Carnival is high season, with the year’s highest prices; Carnival 2027 runs from February 6 to Ash Wednesday, February 10. Book Rio, Salvador and Noronha months ahead for those dates, and Bonito and the Pantanal ahead for July, when Brazilian schools break.
Alternatives by interest
Beach lovers
Keep Rio to three nights and spend the rest on the coast. From December to March, the southern beaches of Florianópolis are at their best. Between June and September, the Lençóis Maranhenses lagoons are fullest, and the dunes and lagoons of Jericoacoara are a few hours from Fortaleza. Around Rio, Paraty and Búzios give a week of small beaches and boat trips without long flights.
Nature and wildlife lovers
Choose between the Pantanal (open plains, easy to spot animals, best July to October) and the Amazon around Manaus (rainforest, river lodges, open all year; high water peaks around June, and sandy beaches appear around October and November). Bonito pairs with the Pantanal; the Amazon pairs best with a few days in Rio or Salvador. For the dunes and lagoons of Lençóis Maranhenses, go from June to September. See our Manaus guide for lodges and river trips.
Food and city lovers
Start in São Paulo, where most long-haul flights land anyway: three nights for its museums, Liberdade’s Japanese food and some of Latin America’s best restaurants, then Rio and Salvador for feijoada, churrasco, moqueca and acarajé. Add Minas Gerais for pão de queijo and colonial towns, or the wine hills of the South around Gramado.
Families
Use fewer, longer stays and nonstop flights. Iguaçu, Bonito’s shallow rivers and the calm beaches of Búzios or Florianópolis are easy wins; the reef pools of Porto de Galinhas suit young swimmers at low tide. The July school holidays and late December are the busiest weeks.
Tips for planning your route
- Choose two or three regions. Rio to Manaus is about a four-hour flight; each region change costs most of a day.
- Match the region to the month. Pantanal July to October; Lençóis Maranhenses June to September; Salvador and Recife driest from about September to March; southern beaches December to March. The best-time guide has the details.
- Compare total fares. Domestic airlines may sell fares without checked baggage; 10 kg of hand baggage is free under ANAC rules. Book weeks ahead.
- Allow time for connections. Many routes connect in São Paulo or Brasília, and a domestic-to-international change at Guarulhos involves a terminal change and security.
- Book limited-entry places early. Bonito tours, Noronha’s pool trails and Pantanal lodges have daily or seasonal limits.
- Get the e-visa first if you need one. US, Canadian and Australian citizens apply online, as of October 2026 for US$80.90; processing takes about 10 business days.
- Bring your passport for Iguazú. The Argentine side means leaving Brazil and entering Argentina, even for a day.
Brazil itinerary FAQ
Is 7 days enough for Brazil?
Enough for Rio de Janeiro and Iguaçu Falls, and that is a great week. Adding a third region in seven days means too much time in airports; plan 10 to 14 days for Salvador, the Pantanal or the Northeast.
How many days do I need in Rio de Janeiro?
Four days covers Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, the beaches, Santa Teresa and the center at a comfortable pace, with a spare day for weather, since cloud can hide the views.
How many days do I need at Iguaçu Falls?
Two full days: one on the Brazilian side (the panorama and the Devil’s Throat walkway, about two hours plus the bird park or a boat trip) and one on the Argentine side. Add a third for the Itaipu dam.
Should I start in Rio or São Paulo?
Start wherever your flight is best; many long-haul flights land in São Paulo, and Rio is a short domestic hop away. If you have no interest in big-city food and museums, connect straight through to Rio.
Pantanal or Amazon?
The Pantanal for seeing lots of animals in open country, including jaguars, best from July to October. The Amazon for the rainforest itself, river life and lodges you can visit all year, with fewer easy sightings.
Can I travel Brazil by bus?
Within a region, yes: comfortable buses link Rio with Paraty and Búzios, and Fortaleza with Jericoacoara. Between regions, distances are too long, so fly.
What is the best month for a two-week Brazil trip?
September to November suits most combinations: dry in the Pantanal, sunny in the Northeast, warm in Rio and before the summer peak. March to May is a good second choice outside Easter.
Can I combine Brazil and Argentina?
Easily at Iguaçu, where the falls are shared. From there, flights reach Buenos Aires, so a two-week trip can be Rio, Iguaçu and Buenos Aires.
Sources
Researched and last reviewed by TravelerCenter on 8 October 2026. Seasons come from Brazil’s National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) climate normals and our best-time guide; Corcovado and Sugarloaf details from their operators; Iguaçu National Park details from its concessionaire; Bonito flight and road times from Bonito’s tourism office; Fernando de Noronha flights and park fees from the island district and ICMBio; baggage rules from the civil aviation agency (ANAC); and e-visa details from Brazil’s consulates. Domestic flight times, bus times to Paraty and Búzios, and road times in the Pantanal and to Jericoacoara are approximate, from schedules, booking sites and general reference. Timetables, fares and rules change, so check with the operator before you travel.
Data: Wikidata (CC0)